Paper-feeding machine.



PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4, 1903.

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PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4, 1903.

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ITED STATES PATENT orrion.

FRANK L. CROSS, OF MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO CROSS PAPER FEEDER COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed December 4, 1903. Serial No. 183,730.-

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK L. CRoss, of Mystic, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Feeding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to that class of sheetfeeding machines in which a bank or pile of sheets are acted upon by combing devices which act to fan or feather out the top sheets, advancing the top sheet a greater distance than the sheets beneath it, so that the top sheet may be separated from the pile or bank and fed forward to machines or devices for further manipulating or acting upon the sheet. In this class of sheet-feeding machines it is customary to employ two combing devices arranged on opposite sides of the center line of the sheet and to control each combing device independent of the other, so that it is thrown out of action when'the front edge of the sheet at that side is advanced into proper position. The speed with which a combing device will advance thetop sheets depends upon the character of the surfaces of the sheets in that part of the pile upon which the combing device The combing devices are usually driven at the same speed, and the top sheets will-be advanced on each side of the center line at equal speeds in case the surfaces of the sheets are of the same character on each side of the pile. In case, however, the character of the surfaces of the sheets varies on opposite sides of the pile the top sheets will be advanced by one of the combing devices at a higher speed than by the other for instance, in feeding sheets which have been printed upon one surface there maybe heavy cuts printed upon one side of the center line of the sheet, while on the other side of the center line the sheets may be blank or only slightly printed. In such case the combing device on the side where the cuts are will advance the sheets at a slower speed than the combing device on the side where there is less printing, owing to the greater friction between the surfaces of the sheets on the side of the pile where the cuts are located. Whenever the combing action of the two combing devices is unequal, the top of the pile or that part which is affected by the combers will be displaced laterally toward the side where the forward movement of the sheets is the more rapid. This is due to the swinging of the sheets out of alinement by the unequal movement imparted to the two sides of the sheets and to the fact that in bringing the front edge of the sheet into line the comber which advances the sheet more slowly does not fully restore the lateral alinement of the sheets. I overcome this objectionable action of the combing devices by providing devices which act to equalize the action of the combers, so that the effect produced upon the sheets by the combing devices is the same on both sides of the center line of the sheets even when the character of the surface of the sheets on the opposite sides of this line is dissimilar. These equalizing devices are so constructed and arranged that whenever the combing devices tend to displace the top of the pile laterally the action of the combing device on that side toward which the pile is displaced is resisted by the equalizing device, thus reducing the efiective action of this combing device. By thus modifying the action of that combing device which tends to advance the sheets at the higher speed the action of the combing device upon the sheets is equalized and lateral displacement of the pile by the action of the combing devices is prevented. Any suitable form of equalizing devices may be employed which will act to modify the action of the combing devices whenever there is a tendency for lateral displacement of the pile. For the sake of simplicity I have made equalizers in the form of two fingers arranged on opposite sides of the pile in the rear of the combing devices. When either combing device tends to comb forward the top sheets more rapidly than the other, the top sheets on this side of the pile crowd against the equalizer on this side of the pile, so that the forward movement of the sheets is resisted by the friction between the equalizer and the sheets. This resistance will increase until the combing action of the combing device on this side is equal to the combing action of the combing device on the other side of the pile. Thus lateral displacement of the pile in either direction is prevented and the combing action of the combing devices equalized. These equalizing-fingers may be mounted in any suitable manner so as to engage opposite sides of the pile. I have shown these fingers mounted upon the clamps which hold the second sheet while the top sheet is being removed by the devices to which it is presented by the combing devices. This arrangement of the equalizing-fingers involves the employment of clamps which rest upon the rear of the pile during the action of the combers, and certain features of my invention relate to the devices which operate the clamps to clamp and release the sheets while they remain in engagement with the pile.

The various features of the invention are referred to in the claims and will be understood from a detailed description of the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, which embodies one form of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of so much of the feeding mechanism as is necessary to show the application of the present improvements thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking toward the left; and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the action of the combing devices.

In the construction shown in the drawings the sheets are supported ina vertical pile upon a vertically-movable table A and are acted upon by two combing-rolls B B, arranged on opposite sides of the center line of the sheets. These combing-rolls may be thrown out of action by any suitable controlling mechanismsuch, for instance, as is shown in Patent No. 690,702, granted to me January 7, 1902. When the combing-rolls are thrown out of action, the top sheet is removed by suitable delivery devices, (not shown,) and during the action of these devices the clamps C C act against the second sheet and prevent displacement of the sheets as the top sheet is withdrawn. The devices for equalizing the action of the combing-rolls B B consist of fingers D D, secured to the clamps and depending on opposite sides of the pile. So long as the combing-rolls B B act to advance the sheet at the same speed the fingers D D do not come into operation. If, however, one of the combing-rolls tends to advance the sheets more rapidly than the other combing roll, then the equalizing-finger at that side of the pile acts to modify the action of this combing-roll, so that the combing forward of the sheets is the same on both sides of the center line. Suppose, for instance, that the character of the surface of the sheets is such that the combing-roll B tends to advance the sheets more rapidly than the combing-roll B. In such case the action of the combing-rolls will tend to swing the top sheet out of alinement, as indicated by the position of the sheet S in Fig. t. Then the front edge of the sheet in advance of the combing-roll B has been advanced into position, this roll will be thrown out of operation and the roll B will continue in operation until the front edge of the sheet hasbeen brought into alinement. This action of the combing-roll B will swing the sheet into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The action of the combing-rolls, therefore, will tend to cause the top of the pile to creep laterally toward that side on which the combing-roll B operates. As the top sheets are swung toward the position indicated at S in Fig. 4 they crowd against the equalizingfinger D and their forward movement is resisted by the friction between the sheets and the finger D. The finger D therefore acts upon the sheets to retard their forward movement until the combing action of the combingroll B is the same as the combing action of the roll B, and then the sheets will be fed forward without further displacement laterally. In case the combing-roll B acts to comb forward the sheets more rapidly than the comb-- ing-roll B the top sheets will crowd againstthe finger D, as indicated in Fig. 3, until the retarding action of the finger is sufficient to equalize the action of the combers. I prefer to arrange the equalizing-fingers D D so that they are inclined transversely to the pile, as with this arrangement the sheets as they creep laterally will tend to wedge against the fingers, and thus a more eflicient retarding eflect will be produced. Since the equalizing-fingers D D are carried by the clamps G C, these clamps should remain in engagement with the pile during the combing as well as during the time when they are acting to clamp the pile and prevent displacement of the sheets as the top sheet is being removed. The clamps C C are accordingly mounted so that they rest upon the top of the pile and are operated to clamp and release the sheets by pressure devices which are engaged with the clamps to force them against the pile and are disengaged from the clamps to relieve the pressure and allow the top sheets to be combed forward. These pressure devices consist of yokes E E, carried by sleeves F F, which are loosely mounted on the shaft G which supports the clamps. The clamps are loosely mounted on the sleeves F F between the arms of the yokes E E and are adjustable with the yokes to adapt the machine for different sizes of sheets. The yokes are provided with adjustable screws H H, arranged to engage the clamps. The sleeves F F are acted upon by torsional springs I I, which tend to force the yokes against the clamps and press them firmly upon the top of the pile. The yokes are held out of engagement with the clamps against the tension of the springs by means of a collar J, secured to the shaft G and provided with shoulders engaging shoulders F on the sleeves F F. The shaft G is rocked to lift the yokes E E out of engagement with the clamps and to release the yokes, so that they are forced against the clamps by the springs through the arm Gr, secured to the end of the shaft G and having its free end resting upon a vertically-moving bar K,which extends longitudinally of the machine. The bar K is mounted in arms K, secured to a rock-shaft K which is rocked at proper in- IIO tervals to raise and lower the bar K by a cam K acting upon an arm K, secured to the shaft K The cam K is secured to a shaft K the rotation of which is so timed that the bar K is raised as the combing-rolls are thrown into action and is lowered to allow the pressure to be applied to the clamps as the devices for removing the top sheet are thrown into operation.

In order that the clamps C C may be adjusted for sheets of different length, the bar G is supported in carriages L, adjustably mounted upon rack-bars L. The carriages are adjusted on the rack-bars by means of pinions L mounted on a transverse shaft L and engaging the rack-bars.

The devices described for operating the clamps form an efiicient and reliable mechanism for applying and relieving the pressure upon the clamps while they rest upon the pile of sheets. case the equalizing-fingers are to be carried upon the clamps and is also desirable in constructions in which there is a limited free space above the clamps or where other mechanisms would interfere with any considerable vertical movement of the clamps. With this construction the clamps readily accommodate themselves to piles of varying height without requiring a wide range of movement in the parts for operating the clamps.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the combing de vices, of devices for equalizing the combing action of the combing devices on the sheets during the advance of the sheets by said de vices, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the combing devices for acting on the sheets, of equalizing devices for engaging the sheets in the rear of the combing devices and modifying the action of the combing devices, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the combing devices for acting on a pile of sheets, of an equaliZer on each side of the pile against which the sheets crowd when displaced laterally by the combing devices, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the combing devices for acting on a pile of sheets, of equalizing-fingers engaging opposite edges of the pile in the rear of the combing devices, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the combing devices for acting on a pile of sheets, of clamps resting on the pile, and fingers on said clamps extending over the edges of the pile, substantially as described.

This is a desirable construction in 6. The combination with the combing devices of clamps resting on the rear of the pile, a transverse shaft on which said clamps are mounted, spring-pressed arms mounted on said shaft for engaging said clamps, devices carried by said shaft for operating said arms, adjustable carriages in which said shaft is mounted, and means for rocking said shaft in its adjusted positions.

7. The combination with the clamps C, C

for engaging the rear of a pile of sheets, a-

transverse shaft, adjustable carriages in which said shaft is mounted, sleeves mounted on said shaft provided with arms for engaging said clamps, springs for forcing said sleeves toward said clamps, devices on said shaft for moving the sleevesagainst the tension of the springs, and means for rocking said shaft in its adjusted positions.

8. The combination with the clamps resting on the rear of the pile, of a transverse shaft on which said clamps are loosely pivoted, sleeves mounted on said shaft and provided with arms for engaging said clamps, springs for forcing said arms against said clamps, devices on said shaft for operating said sleeves against the tension of the springs, adjustable carriages in which said shaft is mounted, an arm secured to said shaft, and a vertically-moving bar engaged by said arm and extending longitudinally of the sheets.

9. The combination with the clamps, of an operating rock-shaft adjustable therewith for sheets of varying length, an arm secured to said rock-shaft, and a vertically-moving bar engaged by said arm and extending longitudinally of the sheets, substantially as described.

10. The combination with the combing devices for acting on sheets, of transversely-inclined equalizing-fingers arranged on opposite sides of the pile in the rear of the combing devices, substantially as described.

11. The combination with the combing-rolls for acting. on sheets, of equalizing devices for engaging the sheets in the rear of the combingrolls and modifying the action of the combingrolls, substantially as described.

12. The combination with the combing-rolls for acting on a pile of sheets, of transverselyinclined equalizers on each side of the pile against which the sheets crowd when displaced laterally by the combing-rolls, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK L. CROSS.

Witnesses:

IRA L. FIsH, KATHARINE A. DUGAN. 

